10 Things You Learned From The Undertaker's 2002 Interview On Off The Record
It was not until The Undertaker's 2020 retirement that interviews showcasing the real person, Mark Calaway, began to surface regularly. Until then, rare moments would come along in 'Taker's 30-year career that allowed the man to sit and chat candidly and out of character.
Days before his No Disqualification match against Ric Flair at WrestleMania 18 in March 2002, Undertaker conducted an interview at Fan Axxess out of character, being introduced as Mark Calaway, with the sports talk show television program TSN's Off The Record with Michael Landsberg.
10 Origin Of The Undertaker
Decades after this interview WWE has been more open to showing how The Undertaker was created but at the time it was rather rare to hear the story from those involved. Landsberg asked about the origin story of The Undertaker and Calaway shared that the character was the brainchild of Vince McMahon, that Vince always liked the image of the old western Undertaker with the long black coat and the big hat but it was a collaboration between he and McMahon.
After his run in WCW in the late 1980s as "Mean" Mark Callous, a meeting was set up with Calaway and Vince McMahon at the WWE Chairman's house but it was a meeting and just that; Mark believed he was going to walk in and get a job offer right away but it wouldn't take long. "One day I'm sitting at home and the phone rings...'Hello, is this The Undertaker?'...It dawned on me that it was Vince and I said, 'Hell yeah I'm The Undertaker! I'm your Undertaker."
9 He Liked Becoming A More "Real-Life" Character
By the time of the interview, it had almost been 2 years since 'Taker returned to WWE as the "American Badass" in May of 2000, riding out to the ring on a motorcycle; a real-life interest of Calaway's. For the first 9 years of his career Undertaker walked out as the undead minister of darkness. The new character provided Mark with a [adrenaline] rush after all the years of people wondering what is the other side of Calaway/The Undertaker, as was Michael.
Mark said, "I had a couple of real serious injuries and I ended up taking some time off and I said, 'It's time for me to freshen The Undertaker up and give the fans too something they've always wanted to see.' Some people have accepted it and some people, 'Well you know, it's not the same Undertaker.' Well, it's the same Undertaker, it's just Undertaker evolved is what it is...It's a kick for me to come out there and just show a different side of myself."
8 The Internet And Fans Made The Job More Difficult
By 2002 the inside facts of professional wrestling were well-known by many. 'Kayfabe' for fans was diminished but was still upheld by those in the industry. Even in 1994 when Undertaker appeared on LIVE! with Regis and Kathie Lee he was in full character with his wardrobe, make-up, speech, everything. There still were the rare out-of-character appearances such as the infamous television interview 'Taker did in Kuwait with Vader in 1997. The 1999 film Beyond The Mat pulled the curtain back even further on professional wrestling and WWE.
Landsberg noted to 'Taker the evolution of wrestling and that their interview would never have happened had it were 12 years earlier. Mark responded that the fans are more "tuned-in" to what they do and the "behind-the-scenes" was now just as important as the in-ring product. 'Taker was asked if he liked that and said yes and no and what the no is, "There are certain things that happen backstage that it's no one's business...Now the whole internet thing that goes on, it just really makes it hard to do our job and do our job well sometimes.
7 He Was Wary Of The nWo's 2002 Return
The rumor of Undertaker being the locker room leader was addressed and if he actually had that role. Mark said that title was bestowed upon him and that his agenda of the business being #1 got him that position. Mark also said that people look to him for answers and that there is a way of the locker room policing themselves before issues get to the upper office and that he takes that seriously.
Weeks before the interview the nWo debuted in WWE, also being the return of Hulk Hogan, Kevin Nash, and Scott Hall. Landsberg asked how Calaway handled the nWo after their notorious politicking in WCW and 'Taker responded, "I dealt with them all before...I'd be lying if I told you I didn't have my reservations about 'em coming in, just because of what happened down there [WCW]." 'Taker also added he was wary about them being a bad influence on the younger WWE talent but the group turned out better than he anticipated.
6 Worries Of Injuries & Mick Foley
Calaway had considered retirement in the '90s and injuries were not uncommon for the near 7-footer. Calaway stated his thoughts on the physical dangers and effects professional wrestling has on the human body, "You have to be concerned about your health but then you have to decide what it's all worth to you. Anytime you go out to the ring you risk not being able to walk back and of course, all the years, it's gonna take its toll."
The "poster child" for injuries in wrestling is unofficially Mick Foley. On the subject of injuries 'Taker was asked about Mick Foley and their infamous 1998 Hell In A Cell match and if he thought about stopping the match himself. Calaway answered, "I actually told Mick, I said, 'Mick, just stay down.' His tooth had gone through his lip, was lodged in his nostril, he's bleeding from the mouth...it was a violent night for Mick Foley."
5 Boxing Was His Favorite Sport And Thoughts On Referee Stoppages
Michael made a mention that before the interview Calaway had said that his favorite sport was boxing. In 2005, 'Taker on one fight night accompanied boxer Manny Pacquaio to the ring. In 2002 MMA and UFC had yet to go through their North American boom; The Ultimate Fighter was 3 years away. In later years 'Taker would transition more into an MMA enthusiast, attending several UFC events, using MMA gloves when wrestling as well as incorporating submissions that one normally would see in the octagon such as a triangle chokehold.
In boxing and MMA there are referee stoppages and Undertaker was asked about his thoughts on wrestling not having that, "Unless something happens where there's no way you can continue...I think that's what separates wrestlers and the WWF from any other sport, those guys take so much pride and they feel so honored to be out in the ring performing."
4 The Stigma Of Professional Wrestling Had Bothered Him
Landsberg brought up a valid point in that wrestling has the stigma of not being a sport, that in other sports leagues there are disabled and injury lists to allow for recovery and that in boxing the boxers have 2 fights a year, and wrestlers not having that. The road schedule for a professional wrestler varies with the company they are with and the scheduling agreement in their contract. The average travel schedule for WWE performers is 300 days of the year, most having matches.
Michael asked Calaway if the stigma of professional wrestling had bothered him, "It used to. It really used to eat me up that people always--you'd hear 'professional wrestling' and you'd get a snicker, but I got over that because I know what I do, I know the people that come and pay their hard-earned money to watch us perform, I know they appreciate it, so I don't sweat the light stuff 'cus it really doesn't matter but it used to. It really used to eat me up because no one really understands the physical abuse we have to put our bodies through."
3 He Was Disappointed With The Undertaker vs. Undertaker Feud
Not only was an interview with The Undertaker rare but doing a public Q&A was quite interesting for the later segment of the show. Landsberg posted some fan questions for Undertaker and one was asking his thoughts on the Undertaker vs. Undertaker feud concluding at SummerSlam 1994. 'Taker had gone "missing" and was being sought after by actor Leslie Nielsen. Along the way, a fake Undertaker (Brian Lee) began to make appearances in-ring until clashing with the real "Deadman" in the summer, with The Undertaker coming out victorious in the night's main event.
Fan reception for the story and match was not too good and Calaway gave his thoughts almost 8 years later, "On paper, I thought it was very intriguing. I was kind of disappointed in how it ended up. It didn't get the mileage out of it that we were really looking for but on paper, it was a good idea." WWE would continue to do imposter storylines over the years with none being successful (Razor Ramon and Diesel in 1996, and Kane in 2006).
2 He Felt The WWE Championship Took A Step Back For Storylines
Going into the year 2002 The Undertaker had only held the WWE Championship 3 times, though 2 months after the OTR interview 'Taker would win the gold for the 4th time. Landsberg brought up another fan question addressing title matches when 'Taker was champion, that the matches then were headlines and if the world championship had a lesser value at the time compared to prior years.
Calaway honestly answered, "I don't know that the title means less. I think our TV is more storyline-driven now. Definitely the title is still important and whoever owns the title, he's the guy, but I think the title has kind of taken maybe a step back due to storyline."
1 Addressing Retirement Rumors And Needing Feedback
A third fan question was shown to Calaway asking if the rumors of him retiring after WrestleMania 18 were true. Mark answered, "No. I contemplated retirement--I had a couple of serious injuries a couple of years ago and the one thing that I don't want to be is past my prime. I don't want to be out there in the ring with people saying, 'You should've seen him 'here.' I don't want people out there feeling sorry for me. As long as I can continue to stay healthy and I can keep pace with the young bucks--with the 'Rocks' and those guys, then there's no need for me to leave."
Landsberg then responded that some would say the guy Calaway was describing was Hulk Hogan and Mark replied, "He's on his own agenda. I don't think at his age that this [wrestling] would still be the life for me. I don't know that I'd need it at that point but that's Hogan's decision, if he wants to continue on who's to say? He is an icon." 'Taker would also add, "I think I keep a pretty good finger on the pulse of where I'm at. I speak with Vince [McMahon] quite a bit. I question myself. I question myself on, 'Do I still have it?' I feel that I do but I need other input, I need people's feedback."
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